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Obama called Bush and Clinton to 'preview' his statement AP PhotoClose

President Obama called George W. Bush and Bill Clinton on Sunday before he announced that Osama bin Laden had been killed, a White House official told reporters on a conference call.

Obama called Bush and Clinton to "preview" his statement, said the senior administration official, who refused to be identified on the call.

The official also said that Obama chaired five national security meetings since March to discuss intelligence on Osama bin Laden. Those meetings, the official said, were on March 14, March 19, April 12, April 19 and April 28. Obama authorized the attack on bin Laden on Friday, April 29, the official said.

In his statement announcing the killing of bin Laden, Obama mentioned Bush once.

"We must also reaffirm that the United States is not, and never will be, at war with Islam. I’ve made clear, just as President Bush did shortly after 9/11, that our war is not against Islam," Obama said. "Bin Laden was not a Muslim leader. He was a mass murderer of Muslims."

Obama, who spoke for 10 minutes, recalled a sense of unity after the Sept. 11 attacks and said that the United States went to war "to protect our citizens, our friends, and our allies." He also gave a message to the families of 9/11 victims: "We have never forgotten your loss, nor wavered in our commitment to see that we do whatever it takes to prevent another attack on our shores."

"And tonight, let us think back to the sense of unity that prevailed on 9/11," Obama said. "I know that it has, at times, frayed. Yet today’s achievement is a testament to the greatness of our country and the determination of the American people."

99 Comments

How convenient! Bin laden gets killed just in time for Obama's run for another term. He's the most manipulative, fradulent liar out there. Don't trust anything he does or says. He's had days to announce this.

The biased media ended Trump's program to make this announcement. Our Campaigner-In-Chief still hasn't spoken. Is his teleprompter down?

Bin Laden's death is more symbolic than a real victory over Al Quaeda. In recent year as Bin Laden has been hiding, the real mastermind is Ayman al Zawahiri. He is the one they we really need to kill -- Bin Laden is just a trophy death that will have little impact on AQ operations which Zawahiri runs.

Por fin! Finally!! It was about time. But we must be vigilant and not let our guard down. The coming days, weeks, and months may get ugly has the terrorist try to seek vegence for the death of this piece of human debris that we put out of existence. God Bless our soldiers and the United States of America, the greatest country in the history of mankind!!!

Por fin! Finally!! It was about time. But we must be vigilant and not let our guard down. The coming days, weeks, and months may get ugly has the terrorist try to seek vegence for the death of this piece of human debris that we put out of existence. God Bless our soldiers and the United States of America, the greatest country in the history of mankind!!!

As usual FOX comes out with misinformation and that cow Gretta to back them up before coming out with the facts. Anything to put their "conspiracy" spin on great news. Hurray for our guys who pulled this off. Hurray for the National Security team.

Justifiable retribution was due, but the problem is now so much larger than one man. All the money wasted in overseas operations to defend American soil may now seem worth it to some, but as the country ran butter and guns (the welfare state and two wars) budget while the average Joe struggled to find a good job and remain in the middle class. What may feel good now with the understandable execution of Osama will not last because there will be a response by his misguided followers and this could cause greater loss of life and more spending further bankrupting the country. There is a price to pay for all things: Osama paid with his life and America is paying with lives and indentured servitude to the countries that have bankrolled out debt. Who will be the final international winner is sadly yet to be seen. Let's hope the USA survives this insanity.

President Obama, along with our military, should be commended on a job well done. The reality of it is that any president would have authorized such an operation. To rush to the conclusion that Obama is a good president simply because he authorized this op is a bit foolish. To be completely honest, we still have a failing economy and an insurmountable debt and deficit, most of which was and is still being created by this president.